It doesn’t matter if you own a new or used vehicle, how you maintain your vehicle matters because, proper care and maintenance of your car, truck, or van will keep it on the road longer and it will also help to protect your investment.

If you’re not familiar with how to properly maintain your vehicle, this article provides you with a list of expert maintenance tips that you can use to either maintain your vehicle yourself or create a schedule to follow which will ensure that your vehicle is running for years to come.

Stick with Regular Maintenance

Regular vehicle maintenance is one of the keys to success with keeping a car, truck, van, or any type of vehicle on the roads for a prolonged period of time. Your vehicle maintenance should include the following:

• Oil Change – At least every three to five thousand miles.
• Tire Maintenance – Tire pressure should be checked with every oil change and the tires should be rotated and balanced at least twice per year depending on how often you drive your vehicle.
• Tune-up – Although most newer vehicles only require tune-ups after 100,000 miles, if you have an older car or truck you should consider having your vehicle tuned up at least once per year.
• Preventive Maintenance – Depending on how often you drive your vehicle, you should consider taking your car, truck, or van Into the mechanic on an annual or semi-annual basis to have the belts, hoses, and other internal components of the engine inspected to make sure that they are holding up well when it comes to wearing tear and are not needing to be replaced.
• Keep Your Vehicle Clean – You should wash your vehicle at least once or twice a month depending on the weather and or driving conditions for where you live.  Each time you wash your vehicle you should also take the time to inspect your headlights, tail lights, and blinkers to make sure that they are continuing to work properly.
• Schedule Vehicle Maintenance – Last of all, one of the most important things to do when it comes to vehicle maintenance is to use a calendar program to schedule the maintenance of your vehicle that way you never forget to take your van, car or truck in for oil changes or regular maintenance checkups which are vital for keeping it on the road for as long as possible.

Garage Your Vehicle at Night – If Possible

In Portland, Oregon and other areas in the United States it’s not uncommon for some vehicles to take a beating on the roads, especially during the winter months when salt and other chemicals are used to keep roads in drivable condition.

To avoid long-term damage to your vehicle during the winter months you should try to park your vehicle in a garage at night or under a parking structure because this will help your vehicle to avoid potential damage from heavy snowfall or rain.

Don’t Lend Your Vehicle to Your Children!

Although It’s common for most parents to lend their vehicle to their son or daughter, especially if their child is just getting started driving, the reality is that this often results in their vehicles getting into accidents during the year due to the inexperience of the driver.

If you value the vehicle that you currently own and want to keep it on the road for as long as possible, you should consider purchasing an older model vehicle for your child that they can drive to from work or school while they’re just getting started with driving and gaining valuable experience behind the wheel.

Take the Time to Drive Your Vehicle

Another huge mistake that many vehicle owners make is to not drive their vehicles, especially if they own a classic model car or truck. Many owners make the mistake of keeping those vehicles locked away in garages or in storage when they don’t realize that a vehicle was intended to be used because driving a vehicle will also help to keep that vehicle in running condition and avoid any problems which could occur while it’s sitting unused.

Regularly Check Your Vehicle’s Fluids

During the months that you are in between oil changes or regular maintenance check-ups, you should also remember to check your vehicle’s fluids regularly. This is especially important during the summer months when it’s not uncommon for a vehicle’s radiator fluid to evaporate especially if that car, truck or van is parked outside and is in direct sunlight all day long.

When You’re Planning on Junking Your Car Call Cash for Cars 24

Are you planning on junking your car? Call Cash for Cars 24 today by calling us at (888) 913-5816 or click here to connect with us online.